Witness as I confess my sins…

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ILOCOS IN SNAPSHOTS

Over the Lenten break I had a chance to visit Ilocos again. My parents are both from Ilocos Norte. They’re from the same town in fact. The same where former President Ferdinand Marcos was also born.

So let me show you in a few pics my Ilocano sojourn.

VIGAN The capital of Ilocos Sur, it is a World Heritage Site known for its Spanish Colonial era homes. Calle Crisologo is the best known area in Vigan which shows these homes.

Stores that sell various wares occupy the lower levels of the old houses along Calle Crisologo

Looking back to the past.

Houses that go back to the Spanish era line Calle Crisologo

The kalesa or horse-drawn carriage is the go-to transportation along Calle Crisologo

Calle Crisologo in Vigan: a mix of the old with the new

Teeming with both people & horses

LAOAG & SARRAT Laoag City is the capital of Ilocos Norte while Sarrat (just outside of Laoag) is the town where Ferdinand Marcos was born. Also the hometown of my parents.

The Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag is one of the city’s prized jewels.

Santa Monica Church at Sarrat is the biggest of the many Spanish colonial churches in the Ilocos Norte region.

Santa Monica church also houses a convent that is now partly in ruins.

The Santa Monica church bell tower was once toppled by an earthquake.

The church is made from red bricks following the Earthquake Baroque style.

A view of the puerta del caruaje or carriage door of the Santa Monica convent.

A glimpse of the past.

BANGUI, BURGOS, & PAGUDPUD If you want to experience the beautiful beaches of Pagudpud (dubbed as the Boracay of the North), you’ll pass by the towns of Bangui (home to the windmills of Ilocos Norte) and Burgos (where the century-old Bojeador lighthouse stands).

Pagudpud approximately an hour away from Laoag boasts of white sands and amazing sunset views.

Sun down

Sun up

The Bangui windmills covers approximately 9km of the Bangui shore.

Cape Bojeador has a magnificent view of the Northern shores of Burgos.